U.S. roster chosen for baseball’s World Cup

? Trenidad Hubbard, an outfielder who has spent 10 seasons in the majors with nine teams, was among 24 players selected Monday for the U.S. team at the World Cup in the Netherlands.

The Americans will be coached by former major league manager Davey Johnson in the 18-nation tournament, which begins Friday.

The U.S. roster consists of professionals not on 40-man major league rosters. It’s the fifth time USA Baseball has used professionals, following the 1999 Pan American Games, the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the 2001 World Cup and the 2003 Olympic qualifier.

Hubbard, who has spent 2005 with Tampa Bay’s Triple-A affiliate in Durham, is joined on a squad that includes pitcher J.J. Trujillo and outfielder Chris Latham from independent leagues and pitcher Jason Jacome from the Mexican League.

The U.S. is in Pool B with Australia, Colombia, Taiwan, Greece, Japan, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua and Spain.